Originally Posted by
alan11
Being that this is a forum for flying, it's worth noting that JAL has the Japan Explorer Pass with pretty sweet deals:
Flying Tokyo HND to Aomori (AOJ) can be as cheap as 5,870 yen on the JAL Pass each way if purchased a month or two in advance and if going non-weekend.
Heck, if you were only planning to transfer in Tokyo mid-trip for going up to Aomori (and instead focus all your time for Tokyo at the end of the trip), you can fly direct from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Aomori also on JAL for only 5,840yen... 30 yen cheaper than from Tokyo!
Domestic Japan is fantastic for award tickets if you choose the right programs. Or more specifically, programs that have a domestic Japan rate (like United for travel on NH) or are distance based (BA Avios for travel on JL), although there are probably others too.
Major holidays are difficult, but otherwise both ANA and JAL have very good availability up to the last minute
for ANA (seems to be 3 days for JAL, see the next post), and I have done this many times, often flying one way and taking the train home or vice versa.